Pin carriage

ABSTRACT

A pin carriage is disclosed which is formed by securing together integral modular plastic members, each of which comprises the entire support for all the pins in an order of the pin carriage. These members are secured together by interconnecting means which are integrally formed thereon.

United States Patent 1 1 3,565,333

[72] Inventor Armin 0. Fischer [56] References Citedv Cranford, NJ. UNITED STATES PATENTS [2H PP 845,208 3,055,580 9/1962 Tancred m1 235/60 d g? :32? 3,385,519 5/1968 Arvai 235/60 mane e 3,469,776 91969 He e tal 2 [73] Assignee Litton Business System, Inc. SS e 35/60 Orange, NJ. Primary ExammerStephen J. Tomsky AttorneysNorman Friedman, Stephen E. Feldman, Morris 1.

Pollack, Arthur T. Groeninger and Philip Furgang 54 PIN CARRIAGE l8 Clalms6 Drawmg Flgs' ABSTRACT: A pin carriage is disclosed which is formed by [52] U.S.Cl 235/60 securing together integral modular plastic members, each of [5 1] Int. Cl G06c 7/00 which comprises the entire support for all the pins in an order [50] Field of Search 235/60, of the pin carriage. These members are secured together by in- (T.K.), 145 terconnecting means which are integrally formed thereon.

PATENIEU FEB23 |97l I 3,565 333 sum 1 UF. 3

INVENTOR ARMIN o. FISCHER ATTORNEY PATENTEDFEB23I97I 1 v 35651333 sum 2 or 3 F'IG'. 5

FIG. 2 FIG. 2a

INVENTOR ARMIN O. FISCHER ATTORNEY FISCHER INVENTOR A R M I N ATTORNEY PIN CARRIAGE A need has developed in the calculating machine art for a pin carriage which has relatively few parts, which parts interconnect so that the pin carriage can be inexpensively and easily constructed. Previously, pin carriages were complex structures having many parts, very often including an overall brace to hold the parts together.

Occasionally, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,580, the individual supporting orders of the pin carriage have been formed of few parts. However, even in those cases, more that one part is used for each order and moreover, a rigid bracing structure is needed to hold the orders together.

The need then exists for a pin carriage having integral members for each order, which members interconnect to form the entire pin carriage structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION riage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the four lowest orders of the pin carriage before assembly.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view'ofthe pins in the pin carriage.

FIG. 2a is another view ofthe pins of FIGJZ.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pin carriage including part of the rack mechanism of a calculating machine on which it is employed. 1

FIG. 4 is a front view of the mechanism of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the mechanism of FIG. 3, particularly illustrating the rack mechanism of the associated calculator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pin carriage of the present invention comprises a series of integral modular members, each of which supports the pins in one order of a pin carriage. These members, which are preferably of a strong durable material such as plastic, have connectors molded thereon so that they are quickly and easily joined to each other to form the pin carriage.

The members, as shown more clearly in FIG. I, are substantially rectangular in shape having a length which is approximately six or seven times their height, and a width which varies in thickness depending on thespacing of the racks of the associated machine. Each of the members is broadly divided into three sections, a front section 2 which includes various control units and part of the connecting mechanism, a central section 4 which includes the structure for supporting the individual pins, and an end section which includes part of a guiding mechanism and part of the connecting mechanism.

The first of these sections of each module is substantially rectangular in shape having a T-shaped aperture 8 which acts as a guide for member 10, the capacity limiting device of the associated calculating mechanism. The. capacity limiting device is not described in detail since it is not part of this invention. Also located in this section of the module are an aperture 12 into which a control shaft is inserted and a connecting pin 14. The pin has a substantially square cross-sectional area which increases slightly from the place where the pin projects from surface 13 to near its outer extremity 15. A beveled edge is provided on the pin for ease in inserting it into its corresponding aperture, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. I

Positioned above pin 14 is a substantially square aperture 16 having a cross-sectional area which is slightly less than the maximum cross-sectional area of pin 14. The aperture is adapted to receive the pin which corresponds to pin 14 and LII projects from an adjacent module. It will be noted that in module 18, pin 20 which is the equivalent of pin 14, and aperture 22 which is equivalent to aperture 16 are reversed. Aperture 22, being below pin 20, whereas in module 1, aperture 16 is above pin 14. The structure is built in this manner so that pin 20 will fit into aperture 16 and the corresponding pin in the next higher order will fit into aperture 22 and also so that pin 14 will fit into the corresponding aperture in the next lowest order. It will thus be seen that while all the modules are basically the same, there are two types (based on the location of the pins and apertures) each of which are used for alternate orders of the pin carriage.

Now discussing the modules in further detail. The center section of the module, section 4, has an upper projecting surface 28 and a lower projecting surface 30. Each of these surfaces has eight extending fingers 33 projecting therefrom. The fingers are positioned so as to form nine slots 34 for holding thepins 32 of the pin carriage. A single pin is shown in the fourth slot for purposes 'of illustration, but it will be appreciated that during operation all the slots will be filled with pins. As shown in the drawings, there are nine slots for the pms.

Briefly, the operation ofthe pin carriage is as follows. A pin in each order will be depressed depending on the value to be entered in that order. Depression of a pin determines the'position where its associated rack is stopped. This operation is in accordance with the conventional operation of calculating machines.

Referring once again to the module. End 6, previously described, contains a central section 39 having a circular opening 40 in its center. A control shaft which runs the length of the pin carriage and acts to guide the pin carriage as it travels from one side of the calculating machine to the other is inserted into this opening 40. This is discussed in more detail subsequently.

Also projecting from this end of the module is a circular pin 42 having a slightly increasing diameter and a circular aperture 44 whose diameter is slightly smaller than the greatest diameter of the pin. This pin and aperture in a similar manner to pins 14 and apertures 16 serve to connect adjacent modules ofthe pin carriage together. The pins and apertures alternate in the same manner as pins 14 and apertures 16. In module 1, pin 42 is below aperture 44, whereas in the modules of either side of module 1 the pin is above the aperture. This is done so that each alternate pin can be inserted in the opening in the adjacent module. Thus, as mentioned before, there are two sets of modules, the alternate ones-of which are identical to each other. The main difference between the two sets of modules being the location of the connecting pins and apertures.

Now referring once again to section 6 of the module. This section has an inclined surface 48 which is of a reduced thickness. The reduced thickness results in openings being formed between adjacent modules when they are joined together. This can best be seen in FIG. 3. These openings are used to join the pin carriage to the multiplication mechanism. However, since this application is not concerned with the multiplication mechanism, this will not be described in detail.

Now reverting back to the description of pin 42. The pin at its greatest diameteris slightly greater than opening 44, in a like manner to pin 14 and opening 16. This is done so that there will be an interference fit between the opening and the pin, and thus the pin will be securely held in the opening in the adjacent module. In the same way, the pin on the next higher module will be held in its corresponding opening and so on until all the modules are interconnected.

As aforementioned, when the desired number of modules are assembled they are interconnected by pins I4 and 42 and slots 16 and 44 to form the completed pin carriage. It will be appreciated that the rear side of the back surface 50 of each module will abut the end 52 of the fingers of an adjacent module to form completed slots as shown in FIG. 3.

The lowest order module 51, as shown in FIG. 1, does not contain these projecting fingers, nor does-it contain connecting pins; These have been eliminated since neither the pins nor the fingers are needed for the module as itserves solely to form thewall 50 to complete the outer surface of the slots for the pins. In a like manner, the highest order module doesnot have slots 16 and 44 since there is no higher order module having pins to interconnect into the slots.

In the lower part 2 of each module is an opening 54, which is located either on the left or right side of the module. The position of these slots (whether on the right or left side) corresponds to the positioning of the pins and slots. As the pins and slots are alternated between adjacent modules so are these openings. This alternation in openings is done so that when the modules are assembled, a right and left opening will coincide as shown in FIG. 3 to; form a larger opening 56 between each pair of modules. Even though a large group of these openings are formed, only one of them is used. Suitable mechanism cooperates with a detent and spring which are inserted into that opening hold the pin carriage in position in certain operational modes of the machine. As this holding mechanism forms no part of the invention, it will not be described in any further detail.

As was noted from the previous discussion, the modules are interconnected in a manner so that they are permanently affixed together and will not separate. However, to insure that accidentally or through maltreatment they do not come apart, a U-shaped bracing member 74 is provided. This member is attached to and extends from' one side of the lowest order module to the opposite side of the highest order module. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, member 74 isattached to the lowest order module 51 by suitable screws or other connectors 76 and to the highest order module also by suitable connectors 78. Extending from member 74 is a finger 79, which is used for returning the pin carriage to its home position (the position of FIGS).

The pin carriage moves from right to left (FIG. 3) and can be manually returned to the right home position by the operator grasping finger 79 and moving it to the right. This is particularly useful in clearing an incorrect amount out of the pin 7 carriage. To clear the pin carriage, finger 79 is moved to the right so that the entire pin carriage moves to the right and thereby arrow-shaped pin restorer 80, shown in FIG. 4, contacts the depressed pins and restores them to their raised (home) position (the position of the pin in-FIG. 22a). It will be appreciated that whenever the pin carriage is moved from left to right, pin restorer 80 will contact the depressed pins to restore them to their original home positions.

Referring back to member 74; connected to the member is a flat platelike member 82. This member 82, as shown in FIG. 3 and 4, which is controlled by cam 81, is positioned to the left of the pin carriage and attached to member 74 by suitable connectors. Extending from the member is a projection 84 through which a pivot rod 85 passes. The pivot rod is suitably connected so that member 82 will rotate about it.

In operation member 82 pivots about rod 85 to raise or lower its forwardsection 86 out of or into contact with racks 88. In the latter case, member 82 is tilted downwardly (into the plane of the paper inFlG. 3) so that its end 86 is below the raised ends 89 of the racks to thereby prevent the racks from moving in a rearward direction (towards the top of FIG. 3). However, in the other situation, when it is desired to release the racks so that they can-move rearwardly, member 82 is tilted upwardly (out of the plane of the'p'aper in FIG. 3) so that the projections 89 of the racks are no longer blocked and can move rearward.

In FIG. 22a the pin carriage is shown in greater detail. Each of the pins 32 consists of an elongated member having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional area and having a flexible spring arm 36 extending from the top section 104 toward the bottom section 106, and ending a little more than halfway therebetween.

Molded on the pins is an extending member 108. This member is wider than the opening 34 in which the pins are positioned so that it will prevent the pins from escaping upwardly or downwardly. As aforementioned, spring arm 36 biases each of the pins between its upper and lower positions. The upper position is shown by the pin in the left-hand side of FIG. 2-2a. 11

Projection 36 is positioned above detent 38 when the pin is in the raised position to prevent a pin from traveling too far down and slipping out of opening 34. When the pin is pushed down to the lower position as shown in the right-hand side of FIG. 22a, the bottom section 106 is below detent 38' and member 108 is in contact with the bottom fingers 33 so that the pin cannot slip out of the slot.

FIG. 5 illustrates the rack and its relationship to the pin carriage. The exact operation of the rack is more clearly described in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 707,117; filed by the same inventor as this application and assigned to the same assignee as this invention.

The manufacturing assembly of the pin carriage will now be briefly reviewed. The modules which make up the pin carriage are preferably molded of plastic or other strong material, as aforementioned, and are molded in two configurations, one group having the interconnecting pins and holes in one location and the other group having them in the opposite location as described herein before. There are also slight other differences also as aforementioned.

The modules, with the calculating pins inserted therein are then press fitted together and, as aforementioned, since the tapered pins 14 and 42 have a diameter which is slightly greater than the openings, the modules are securely held together by an interference fit. When the required number of modules are connected, the two end modules are then connected to them. These modules are the same as the others except they are missing part of the interconnecting structure. This was described in more detail previously.

The operation of a calculating machine with the pin carriage of the invention inserted therein will now be described briefly. 1

Firstly, a key (not shown) is depressed to cause the depression of one of the pins in the highest order of the pin carriage, the leftmost order in FIG. 3. When the pin is depressed, it will be depressed from the position shown by the pin in the lefthand side of FIG. 2 to that shown in the right-hand side of FIG. 2. Suitable indexing mechanism including spring (connected betweenplate 82 and extension 92), will then move the pin carriage to the left. 7

The next digit is then entered by depressing a key to enter it in the next order of the pin carriage. As before, entering the amount in this order will cause the appropriate pin to be depressed. The same procedure will take place with the next order and so on as the pin carriage indexes order by order until the entire number is entered into the pin carriage.

For example, if the number 326 was to be entered into the pin carriage, 3 would be entered into the highest order, then the pin carriage would be indexed one space to the left; 2 would then be entered into the next order, the pin carriage would then be indexed one more space to the left; and finally 6 would be entered into the next order and the pin carriage would then be indexed one more space. In this position the orders of the pin carriage which hold the digits are positioned above the appropriate order racks 88, shown to the left of the pin carriage in FIG. 3. If three orders of the pin carriage have digits therein, those three orders will be positioned above the three lowest order racks.

At this point a suitable actuation key (not shown) is depressed tocause the racks to move rearwardly (to the right in FIG. 5) as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 707,] I7.

As the racks move to the rear, projection 89 on each rack will contact its corresponding depressed pin and will be stopped from moving any further.

During this movement, the racks to the left of those that have just been described are held inthe forward position, that is the position of FlG. 3, by plate 82 being tilted downwardly (into the paper) so that its lower edge 86 comes in contact with projection 89 on the racks to prevent their movement. Therefore, only the racks where a digit is to be entered can move to the rear, to enter this digit in a register.

After the amount is entered into the register, the racks are returned to their home position, the pin carriage is returned to its home position. i

It will be noted that during multiplication or other operations where it is desired to move the racks without any relation to the pin carriage, plate 82 will be lifted so all the racks can move to the rear without being controlled by an amount in the pin carriage. This multiplication function is not discussed in detail since it is not directly related to this application.

It will be appreciated that the pin carriage described in this application is easily and quickly assembled since each order is a single integral modular unit which interconnects with other modules to form the entire pin carriage.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof,

it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. In a calculating machine:

a series of calculating pins;

a pin carriage comprising:

a first integral unitary modular member having means to support all the calculating pins in at'least one order of a pin carriage, and acting as a side of the pin carriage;

first connecting means disposed on said first member, and

unitary therewith;

a second integral unitary modular member having means to support all the calculating pins in an adjacent order of said pin carriage;

first connecting means disposed on and unitary with said second member and adapted to interconnect with said first connecting means on said first member to form said pin carriage; and

another member connected to said second member to act as a side of said pin carriage and form substantially said entire pin carriage.

2. The pin carriage of claim 1 wherein said first and second members are constructed of plastic material.

3. The pin carriage of claim 1 wherein said first connecting means on said first member includes 'means defining an aperture and wherein said first connecting means on said second member includes means defining a pin; i

4. The pin carriage of claim 3 wherein said pin means and said aperture means interconnect by means of an interference fit. a

5. The pin carriage of claim 4 whereinsaid first member contains a first surface on which said aperture means is disposed and wherein said second member contains a first surface on which said pin means is disposed, said surfaces are adapted to be contiguous when said first and second members are connected by means of said pin and aperture means.

, with said first connecting means.

7. The pin carriage of claim 6 wherein said second connecting means includes means defining an aperture and a pin in said second member and means defining a pin and an aperture in said first member, and wherein said first connecting means further includes a means defining a pin on said first member and means defining an aperture on said second member.

8. The pin carriage of claim 7 wherein said calculating pins are disposed within means defining openings in said first member.

9. The pin carriage of claim 8 wherein said first surface of said second member defines a wall enclosing said openings for said pins in said first member.

10. The pin carriage of claim 8 wherein said first member comprises an elongated rectangular member having planar surfaces and wherein said first connecting means is disposed adjacent one end and said second connecting means is disposed adjacent said other end.

11. The pin carriage of claim 10 wherein said second member is substantially identical to said first member with said first connecting means having said means defining a pin disposed above said means defining an aperture and wherein said first connecting means on said first member having said means defining a pin disposed below said means defining an aperture.

12. The pin carriage of claim 11 wherein connecting means are provided on a second surface of said first member which surface is parallel to said first surface of said first member and wherein connecting means are disposed on a second surface of said second member, which surface is also parallel to said first surface of said second member.

13. The pin carriage of claim 12 wherein a plurality of first members and a plurality of second members are provided wherein said first members and said second members are in terconnected so as to form means for supporting the pins in a plurality of orders.

14. The pin carriage of claim 13 wherein said first members and said second members are alternatively interconnected to form a structure having each first member separated by each second member.

15. The pin carriage of claim 14 wherein five first members are provided and five second members are provided which members are interconnected to form a pin carriage having 10 orders.

16. The pin carriage of claim 15 wherein each of said pins is provided with an integral spring biasing member which biases said pin between a first actuated position and a second unactuated position.

17. The pin carriage of claim 16 wherein means are provided in said means defining an opening which coacts with said biasing spring to support said pin alternatively in the unactuated position and the actuated position.

18. The pin carriage of claim 17 wherein nine pins are pro vided for each order of each member of the pin carriage. 

1. In a calculating machine: a series of calculating pins; a pin carriage comprising: a first integral unitary modular member having means to support all the calculating pins in at least one order of a pin carriage, and acting as a side of the pin carriage; first connecting means disposed on said first member, and unitary therewith; a second integral unitary modular member having means to support all the calculating pins in an adjacent order of said pin carriage; first connecting means disposed on and unitary with said second member and adapted to interconnect with said first connecting means on said first member to form said pin carriage; and another member connected to said second member to act as a side of said pin carriage and form substantially said entire pin carriage.
 2. The pin carriage of claim 1 wherein said first and second members are constructed of plastic material.
 3. The pin carriage of claim 1 wherein said first connecting means on said first member includes means defining an aperture and wherein said first connecting means on said second member includes means defining a pin.
 4. The pin carriage of claim 3 wherein said pin means and said aperture means interconnect by means of an interference fit.
 5. The pin carriage of claim 4 wherein said first member contains a first surface on which said aperture means is disposed and wherein said second member contains a first surface on which said pin means is disposed, said surfaces are adapted to be contiguous when said first and second members are connected by means of said pin and aPerture means.
 6. The pin carriage of claim 5 wherein a second connecting means is disposed on said first member and a corresponding mating second connecting means is disposed on said second member for interconnecting the two members in conjunction with said first connecting means.
 7. The pin carriage of claim 6 wherein said second connecting means includes means defining an aperture and a pin in said second member and means defining a pin and an aperture in said first member, and wherein said first connecting means further includes a means defining a pin on said first member and means defining an aperture on said second member.
 8. The pin carriage of claim 7 wherein said calculating pins are disposed within means defining openings in said first member.
 9. The pin carriage of claim 8 wherein said first surface of said second member defines a wall enclosing said openings for said pins in said first member.
 10. The pin carriage of claim 8 wherein said first member comprises an elongated rectangular member having planar surfaces and wherein said first connecting means is disposed adjacent one end and said second connecting means is disposed adjacent said other end.
 11. The pin carriage of claim 10 wherein said second member is substantially identical to said first member with said first connecting means having said means defining a pin disposed above said means defining an aperture and wherein said first connecting means on said first member having said means defining a pin disposed below said means defining an aperture.
 12. The pin carriage of claim 11 wherein connecting means are provided on a second surface of said first member which surface is parallel to said first surface of said first member and wherein connecting means are disposed on a second surface of said second member, which surface is also parallel to said first surface of said second member.
 13. The pin carriage of claim 12 wherein a plurality of first members and a plurality of second members are provided wherein said first members and said second members are interconnected so as to form means for supporting the pins in a plurality of orders.
 14. The pin carriage of claim 13 wherein said first members and said second members are alternatively interconnected to form a structure having each first member separated by each second member.
 15. The pin carriage of claim 14 wherein five first members are provided and five second members are provided which members are interconnected to form a pin carriage having 10 orders.
 16. The pin carriage of claim 15 wherein each of said pins is provided with an integral spring biasing member which biases said pin between a first actuated position and a second unactuated position.
 17. The pin carriage of claim 16 wherein means are provided in said means defining an opening which coacts with said biasing spring to support said pin alternatively in the unactuated position and the actuated position.
 18. The pin carriage of claim 17 wherein nine pins are provided for each order of each member of the pin carriage. 